Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-21
THE OTHER ONES TWINS.
Mr.. BARNuM'S LITTLE FAMILY AR
RANGeMENT FELL THROUGH

Because One wife's Feelings Were Out
ragged When He Fondied the Other wife's
Twins-Peculiar Marital Experience of 8
Resident 81 Missouri-Be Sure You're
Right Before You Proceed.
HANNIBAL Mo-, July 2I-Ou the 18th of
May last two women, a mother and daughter,
arrived in this city on a visit TO the family Of
W. II, Barnum, contracting carpenter and
prominent citizen The elder woman was in
troduced as cousin of Mr.. Barnum The
two remained as his guests until two weeks
ago when Mrs BaInum one evening saw her
husband and his cousin" fondiy embracing
and kissing each other She charged her
husband with being unfaithful, and demanded
an explanation, whereupen the startling dis
closure was made that their guest was even a
nearer relative to MIR. Barnum than his
cousin
She was his lawfully weided wife. When
the surprise from the shock had subsidized, the
matter was calmly talked over by the two
women and Mr.. Barnum, and if was decided
that they should continue to live together us
before. Both women appeared to be deeply
attached TO Mr. Barnum, and il was because
the cousin" could not bear TO see him cares
the twins that his second wife had borne him
that she decided to leave him, which she did
Tuesday, and the romantic story of their lives
leaked out When a correspondent called on
the cousin" whom Mr. Barnum had called
MRS, Haney, she produced marriage ceiti-
ficate which read as follows:
This certifes that the rite of holy matrimonv
was celebrated between William II Barnum Of
East Missouri Canada and Catharine c. Stevens,
of Thamesfori Canada. IN Thursday the It'll dav
of March 1856, at Ingersol, oxford county On
tario, by me. Rev. L. WARREN
Wesleyan Methodist Minister.
Mrs Barnum No | said they had lived to-
gether until Nov. p, 1878, during which tima
one child, a daughter, was boru For cause
they separated on that date, and she did not
hear from him until three years ago, sinner
which time they have kept up a regular COZ
respondence. Neither of them made al
plication for divorce, but last jam
airy Mr.. Barnum went to her home at Chase,
Mich, and told her if she would come to
Hannibal and pass herself off as his cousin he
would support her. She agreed, and Barnum
returned to Hannibal in May She followed
with money furnished by Barnum She says
that when she came here it was understood
she was not to divulge the fact that she was
his wife, and she would not have done
so if wife No 2 had treated her
right But" she said, at was awful hard TO
gee him cares that other wosnan's twins, and
l could stand it no longer"
Mrs Barnum No when interviewed said
she was married to Mr. Barnum June ), 1852,
at Bay City Mich Her maiden name was Jen.
| ME Lehigh. They came to Hannibal the next
fall, where the twins were born. They are now
80 years old, and took premium at the last
Hannibal fair for their beauty. The married
life of the couple was happy one until wife
No. l appeared on the scene Although CON
| siderably affected by the late developments
she does not despair, and hopes when the
trouble is settled II will be in her favor, and
| that she may continue to live with Mr. Bar
mum his wife. During Barnum's resi-
| dence here he has gained the reputation Of
an honorable citizen He saws that after
| his separation from his first wife he
| endeavored to find her bnt she had changed
her name, aud that she elnded him. About
three years before he married his second
| wife he received letters from parties living al
Saginaw, Mich, informing him she was dead
| and be took the matter for granted Three
years ago he learned she was still living but
at that time he was married and concluded
| to let the matter rest, thinking the facts
| would never become known His only rea-
son for having her live with him was to pro
vide for her and their daughter, who, hi
says was very dear to him. Barnum has mol
vet been arrested